Dance, Eat and Be Merry: The Gift of Movement

As I sat in my stretchy pants this holiday weekend, belly full of carbohydrates, turkey and sweet delicious desserts, I was so thankful for the downtime with my family. As I laid around in a food coma, I scrolled through my social media newsfeeds to find fitness friends and JDR participants all feeling the same way: thankful, fat and GUILTY. So many people talking about how they were going to “work off” that holiday meal or trying to convince others to come “work off the extra pie” with them.

I have to say that I’m guilty for posting status updates on my personal page and the JDR Facebook page about “Burning the Bird” and “Preventative Maintenance” and “Working off those holiday indulgences”. It wasn’t until this weekend that it hit me.

How is it that we take all the joy in one day and turn around the next to feel so awful, and shame ourselves for partaking in a holiday about family and being thankful? We should be thankful for our ability to move, not feeling like we need to move as a punishment for a day of indulgence and enjoyment.

When I came across Neghar Fonooni‘s Instagram Post it was like a lightbulb went off in my head and I screamed on the inside YES! YES! THIS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN THINKING ALL WEEKEND! (Neghar has such a way with words and telling it like it is.)

Fitness is not a punishment–it’s a privilege. Bodies are meant to move. Life is meant to be fully lived. And food is meant to be enjoyed.

We absolutely should go to the gym, of course. But let’s go because we love our bodies and we love to move. Because we want to be our strongest, most capable selves. Because fitness makes us feel powerful and purposeful. Not because we’re punishing ourselves for our food choices. ~Neghar Fonooni

As the weekend went on, women in my feed continued to post about how the awful numbers on their scales were and I couldn’t help by think of this photo and reminder that movement is a gift and that instead of punishing ourselves for bad eating, we need to make sure that we are making time for OURSELVES this busy holiday season.

Take the time to gift yourself some movement and relaxation between your shopping, decorating, and holiday parties. Not because you need to fight off the pesky holiday pounds, but because you deserve the time for you.